the true and full meaning of the Greek word for chastity, sophrosini, is “wholeness” or “wholemindedness.” Chastity is therefore a state of being in which the soul and body work together as one.
Vassilios Papavassiliou
Reflections on the Triodion
Lord and Master of my life, give me not a spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, love of power, and useless chatter. Rather grant to me, Your servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience , and love. Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to condemn my brother; for You are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.
“Like candles, so our souls must stand upright before God.
The narrow way, my brothers, leads to the Kingdom of God. Only in restraint of mind, heart and will can the candles of virtue be lit, the flames of which rise up before God. We must, under the image of burning candles, understand the Christian virtues.”
18 January
“We must always pray. But Lent is the time of an increase of prayer and also of its deepening. The simplest way is, first, to add the Lenten prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian to our private morning and evening prayers. Then, it is good and profitable to set certain hours of the day for a short prayer: this can be done “internally”—at the office, in the car, everywhere. The important thing here is to remember constantly that we are in Lent, to be spiritually “referred” to its final goal: renewal, penitence, closer contact with God.”
O our good and sweet Lord
stir up our souls that they may continually
nourish themselves with
Thee and remain alive
Thou art our Bread of Life
February 28
He heals the brokenhearted
and He binds up all their wounds
He numbers the multitude of the stars
And calls them by name
Great is our Lord
and great is His strength
His understanding exceeds every measure
gladsomelife.com 